VETERAN ACTOR KAMAL BAKAR LAID TO REST

MELAKA, June 25 (Bernama) -- Veteran actor Kamarulzaman Bakar, better known as Kamal Bakar, was laid to rest at Bukit Baru Muslim Cemetery at about 2.20 pm today.

Earlier, his remains were brought to the Al-Ehsan Mosque, Bukit Baru for funeral prayers, attended by more than 500 congregants including family members, friends and the public.

The actor, 62, popular for his roles in martial arts dramas in the 1990s, died at 1.10 this morning while undergoing treatment for stage four lung cancer in the ICU of Melaka Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Sarinah Shariff, 55, four sons and a daughter.

Meanwhile, the deceased's eldest son, who is also an actor, Muhammad Hanis Kamal, 35, said his late father was rushed to the hospital on June 3 when he did not show a response after Asr prayers.

“Prior to that, my father looked healthy as usual but lately he had a persistent cough and declined when we wanted to take him to the clinic for treatment.

“After eight days of treatment, the doctor informed us that his condition was critical. My father was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, which had spread to several other parts of his body,” he said when met by reporters here, today.

Muhammad Hanis said that his father, who was also an employee of the Melaka Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), retired more than a year ago, but was still active in acting in several dramas.

He said that the family accepted the passing as fate, and expressed their gratitude to all those who came to pay their last respects and pray for his father.

Meanwhile, fellow actress, Fadilah Mansor, 65, said that Kamal’s passing was a great loss, because he was a professional and disciplined person.

She said that the deceased was a kind person and always helped others, since knowing him more than 30 years ago, and she had acted alongside Kamal in several dramas.

Apart from Fadilah, other celebrities paid their last respects were singer Haida Hasnan, director Aziz M Osman and actor Mubarak Majid.

Kamal was involved in acting since the 1970s and among his dramas are Pendekar, Andai Itu Takdirnya, Orang Minyak, Suami Aku Ustaz and Ratu Ten Pin.

-- BERNAMA